Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,540 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Columbia earn between $16,390 and $22,050.
- $15K10th
- $16K25th
- $18KMedian
- $22K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $23,610 | $1,968 | $11.35 |
| Median | $17,810 | $1,484 | $8.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $16,390 | $1,366 | $7.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $22,050 | $1,838 | $10.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Columbia earn 9% less than the South Carolina average ($25,900) and 41% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -49% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $23,610 | $17,810 | $15,080 | $43,540 | 6,580 |
| South Carolina | $25,900 | $18,370 | $15,080 | $46,820 | 47,200 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $23,610, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $20,881 a year, or $1,740 a month and $803 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $23,610 buys what about $25,208 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 8th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($28,460).
- Charleston$28,460
- Hilton Head Island$28,270
- Greenville$26,850
- Sumter$25,780
- Myrtle Beach$24,780
- Spartanburg$24,780
- Florence$24,150
- Columbia$23,610
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Columbia: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Columbia?
$11.35 an hour on average, and $8.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $16,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Columbia?
About $20,881 a year ($1,740 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $23,610.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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